Joe Cole, Luxury Player

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What to expect

A WATERSTONES SPORTS BOOK OF THE YEAR 2025

'EVOCATIVE' The Guardian
'A GREAT BOOK' Jake Humphrey, High Performance Podcast

CANDID, RAW AND UNFORGETTABLE, THIS IS JOE COLE'S STORY - A MUST-READ FOR ANY FOOTBALL FAN

One of the best players of his era, Joe Cole grew up playing football in North London's estates, and his ability, grit and hard work took him to the very top. But Joe was often mistrusted by managers and out of step with the style of English football in the 2000s. The game was suspicious of creative footballers it considered luxury players - the kind it could regard as an indulgence.

With honesty and an eye for the absurdities of football, Joe takes us inside the dressing room to reveal it all. From his days at the FA's School of Excellence at Lilleshall and rising through the ranks as a teenage prodigy at West Ham, to signing for Roman Abramovich's Chelsea and winning it all under José Mourinho and Carlo Ancelotti, before being discarded by his boyhood club after a remarkable 7-year spell.

He offers an insider account of a fascinating era in modern football, playing alongside the likes of Lampard and Drogba, Beckham and Rooney, Gerrard and Di Canio. He talks about his experiences playing for England's so-called Golden Generation, his extraordinary goal against Sweden at the 2006 World Cup, and the reality of being managed by Sven-Göran Eriksson and Fabio Capello.

It was a remarkable career. Then came the tumultuous end, as Joe battled severe injuries and his family suffered loss. He takes us on the journey of a great player coming to terms with his waning powers as his body began to fail him and the sport moved on. Football had given him everything. But then, it was over.

Critics Review

'[Joe Cole's] evocative new book...'
Donald McRae, The Guardian
Reflecting on the highs and lows of a stellar footballing career, Cole's candid memoir confronts his long history of injuries alongside the numerous trophies he won with a string of high-profile clubs.
Mark Skinner, Waterstones' Best Entertainment & Sports Books of 2025
A great, incredibly interesting book. I thought I knew Joe's story, but there is so much here that I hadn't heard before, he shares everything in full for the very first time. A must-read.
Jake Humphrey, High Performance Podcast
A lovely read about a player who is far more unassuming than I'd imagined. It is, of course, mostly about a generational superstar talent who actually becomes more of an acclaimed superstar actor before injuries take their toll, but it's also about fatherhood. The late George Cole is the undoubted star of this book, an extraordinary character... who proves, for so many reasons, everything a young man in the spotlight needs from a father.
Iain Macintosh, Route One

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